Adjustable wrench



Nov. 23 1926.

M. F. RYAN ADJUSTABLE WRENCH Filed Feb. 18, 1925 Patented Nov. 23, i925 UNTFLB STATES MATHEV F. RYAN, OF FLORENCE, MASSACHUSETTS.

ADJUSTABLE WRENCH.

Application filed. February rlhis invention relates to wrenches and particularly to wrenches for use in manipulating the nuts and other parts of hydrants though7 of course7 the invention is not limited to this use.

rihe general object of the invention is to provide a wrench of this character having an adjustable jaw so that it may be applied to many sided heads or to nuts of different sizes.

e.V further object is to provide a device of this kind having a yoke adapted to embrace the part to which the wrench is applied and having a many sided follower mounted within the yoke and adjustable toward or from the outer end of the yoke.

A further object is to provide a wrench of this kind in which the adjustment is very readily made, in which the wrench is simple, strong and particularly effective.

Another object is to provide a wrench having at one end a yoke and follower, as above described, and at its opposite end provided with a detachable spanner wrench.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of one form of my improved wrench;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of another form of wrench;

Fig. -1 is an elevation of the follower 30 and its stem.

Referring to these drawings it will be seen that I have illustrated two forms of wrench and that in Figure 1 the wrench is formed by a shank tapering toward one end, the small end of the shank having a screw-threaded socket 11 for the reception of the screw-threaded cap 12 of a spanner wrench 13, this spanner wrench being arcuate in form and provided with two radially extending apertures 1&1. The shank 10 at its point of greatest enlargement is formed with a plurality of faces 15 and between these faces and the socket 11 the handle is prorfided with a knurled portion 16. The extremity of the shank is reduced and screwthreaded as at 17, and carries upon it an approximately U-shaped follower ornjaw 18 having outwardly flaring side walls. This follower has a projecting hub 19 having swiveled engagement with the extremity of the shank 10 and for this purpose the hub may be formed with a circumferential recess 1a, 192e. semi No. 89,158.

2O and the shank with a screw 21 extending in said recess. i

Surrounding the screw-threaded portion of the shank 10 is a sleeve 22 having screwthreaded engagement with the threads 1T and tern'iinating in the head or yoke 23 having` the shape approximately that of a pentagon so that the follower 18 approximately fits the inner portion of this pentagonal opening 24. It will be obvious now that by relatively rotating the sleeve 22 and the shank 10 the follower may be shifted outward or inward to thus reduce the dis tance between the follower and the opposed wall of the yoke 0r head 23 and thus adjust the wrench to it nuts of different diameters or to lit other parts of a hydrant to which the wrench is to be applied.

.In Figure 3 I have illustrated a construction similar to that in Figure 1 but varying therefrom in that the sleeve is slidably mounted upon the shank and is thus movable into a plurality of positions. The shank in Figure 3 is designated 10a and slidingly mounted upon this shank is the sleever 25, this sleeve being formed in one side wall with a longitudinally extending slot 26 having a lateral offset 27. A pin 28 extends outward from the shank and through this slot so as to guide the sleeve upon the shank.

The sleeve is provided with a pentagonal head 29` approximately as previously described. Disposed within the pentagonal opening' of the head 29 is an approximately U-shaped jaw 30 having flaring side walls, this follower having a centrally disposed hub 31` extending into a bore 32 formed in the shank. The hub is provided with a circumferential groove 33 and a pin 311 extends through one side wall of the bore 32 into this groove 33 thus swiveling the follower upon the shank. Preferably the inwardly convergent walls of the pentagonal opening are provided with guides 35 enoaging the side walls of the follower. lt will be seen that with this construction the sleeve 25 may be shifted relative to the handle shank so as to enlarge the effective opening in the head of the shank and thus cause it to fit different size nuts or other articles.

While I have illustrated a slot 26 having one lateral oifset portion 27 it will be obvious that other offset portions may be provided to increase the range of adjustment of the wrench. It will be seen that a wrench constructed in accordance with my invention is adapted to be adjusted to different size nuts or heads or to nuts or heads which are partially Worn or 'mutilated l/Vhile I `have illustrated certain details of construction and arrangement of parts which I have found to be particularly effective in actual practice, I do not Wish to be limited thereto as it is obvious that many changes might be made therein Without departing from the spirit of the invention as described in the appended claim.

I cla-im A Wrench of the character described7 co1'n prising a shank having a` reduced threaded end portion formed with a longitudinal bore extending inwardly from the end of the shank, a U-shaped jaw having a cylindrical hub adapted to be fitted Within the bore and rotatable therein, said hub having an annularrecessnan adjustable pin carried by the reduced end o the shank With its inner end projecting into the recess, a sleeve mounted Jfor rotation upon the shank and having screw threaded engagement with the reduced threaded end of the shank whereby said sleeve may be adjusted longitudinally on the shank, a pentagonal siaped head in the outer end of the sleeve with a. similar shaped opening therethrcugh adapted to cooperate With the U`shapedvjaiv1 and guides upon the inner Walls of the pentagonal opening engaging' the outer side walls ot the j aw to guide said jaw and head in the adjustment of the sleeve on the shank.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiix my signature.

MATHEW F. RYAN 

